She’s the Swedish singer-songwriter who became a fan favourite with her Melodifestivalen 2021 entry “Behöver inte dig idag”. Now Clara Klingenström has confirmed that she has no plans to enter Melodifestivalen 2022 — but hasn’t ruled out a future return. The singer also opened up about the real-life mental health journey that inspired her hit song.
Speaking to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Clara revealed that a return to Melodifestivalen in 2022 was not on the cards. She told the newspaper that a return to Mello would be “Not for a while, but it will be so in the future.”
Clara explained her reason for staying away following her breakthrough year: “If I were to show up again now, people might think I’m just doing it to win. That was not the purpose when I was last there. Now I want to go out and play and create new music.”
Clara Klingström shares the story behind the song
Clara also opened up and spoke about the mental health issues she faced that inspired her uplifting Melodifestivalen anthem “Behöver inte dig idag” — “I don’t need you today”.
The singer bravely shared that she had been in a destructive relationship and had experienced both physical and mental abuse. At one stage, Clara said she felt hopeless and tried to take her own life — but fortunately survived. Clara went on to receive therapy which is helping her work through her trauma.
Those experiences helped shape her Melodifestivalen 2021 entry “Behöver inte dig idag” — a defiant and uplifting anthem about moving on and living your best life.
Clara revealed that originally she came up with the song title with cowriters Bobby Ljunggren and David Lindgren Zacharias. The song then took shape while Clara was recovering at her mother’s home in Gotland. She said, “I had just left a relationship that was not good and I then lay in my room […] and did not even want to eat food and was very depressed. One day I suddenly went to the piano and then the lyrics somehow came.”
The performer also revealed that fans have reached out to her with messages of how “Behöver inte dig idag” has touched them. She said, “People have written that I have put their feelings into words, which has helped them. It feels very cool. I too have felt how music has helped me through my own life.”
Clara Klingström competed in Melodifestivalen 2021 with the song “Behöver inte dig idag”. She qualified for the grand final through the andra chansen round and went on to place fifth in the contest overall. The song reached No.3 on the Swedish singles chart and has over 10 million listens on Spotify.
ive been listening to all of her music since melfest, she’s just spectacular
My favourite Melo entry this year by a mile, looking forward to hearing more from Clara in future
Please stop with the heartbreaks… First the withdrawal of Andorra and Bosnia, then the ESC Choir (not a heartbreak but still pretty sad) and now Clara… I honestly care more about her mental health issues and I SO hope that she’ll get better over time but based on her mood all the time at Melodifestivalen, the show may cheer her up a bit!
I really love her song from this year, it’s sad that she will not return next year. I want my my country to send a song in swedish and I think europen people would love that.
It’s probably a smart move because it can be hard to compose a song just as easily great within a year. If she needs more time to compose, then let her. I’d rather see a great song from her two years later, than a crummy one next year.
What an admirable effort. I hope we get to know and listen more from her.
It was the only song I liked, especially since it was in Swedish, it’s a shame she won’t fight for Eurovision again
Even though I want her to return and bring the Swedish language back to Eurovision her health is important and I hope her the best and I will continue to listen to her music
My fave song and performance from Sweden this year. Even if she will not compete Svt should take inspiration from her and bring more authentic songs.